Multiple outlet plug and switch



May 3, 1955 J. J. STEINHARTER MULTIPLE OUTLET PLUG AND SWITCH Filed Jan.25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l l. a I 5 86 .52

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JJSZezjzkarZer V INYENTOR BY 1 I 1 I I ATTORNEYS y 1955 J. J.STEINHARTER MULT IPLE OUTLET PLUG AND SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.25, 1952 jx zeiizkarzefl INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States PatentMULTIPLE OUTLET PLUG AND SWITCH 7 Joseph J. Steinharter, New York, N. Y.Application January 25, 1952, Serial No. 268,184

3 Claims. (Cl. 200--51.16)

This invention relates to a multiple outlet plug and more particularlyto that type of plug adapted to be coupled to a conventional electricalconvenience outlet to increase the number of outlets available for theconnection of attachment plugs to an electrical power line.

The primary object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the numberof time consuming operations in the assembly of devices of the type towhich this invention relates.

Heretofore it has been customary to connect the nonconducting parts ofplugs of the type to which this invention relates by the use of screwsand nuts, or by riveting the parts together. Both the rivetingoperations and the coupling of the parts together by the use of bolts islaborious and time consuming particularly in view of the relativelysmall sizes of the bolts and rivets employed. As a consequence the costof production of items of this character has increased in proportion tothe labor costs involved.

It is therefore another object of this invention to simplify theassembly of the parts and avoid the necessity 2 of handling smallintricate fastening means for holding the parts together.

A further object is to employ the inherent characteristics of theconvenience outlet in maintaining the parts of the plug in properrelation by having the contact prongs of the outlet plug serve asholding members when they are thrust into a conventional convenienceoutlet.

Still another object is to effect economies in the amount of metalrequired for the production of a multiple outlet plug, particularly ofthe type employed for supporting the conventional night light and theconduct of electrical energy thereto.

A still further object is to facilitate the convenient energization orde-energization of a conventional electrically energized lamp of thetype employed in night lights.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a pair of mating body members havingspaced parallel front and back walls, and an end wall closing one end ofeach unit and having spaced slots extending therethrough for thereception of the prongs of a conventional attachment plug, asemi-cylindrical projection carried by the front wall of each unitadjacent the open end thereof adapted to be embraced by a conventionalsplit ring by which the units are held in assembled position, a prongcarried by each unit and extending outwardly from the back wall thereoffor entrance into the slot of a conventional electrical convenienceoutlet, the contact prongs cooperating with the ring in holding theunits assembled, contact members carried by the prongs and extendingtransversely of the prongs within the units and into close proximity tothe slots in the end walls thereof.

Other features include forming the semi-cylindrical extensions intubular fashion and providing in each mating ribs which form when theparts are assembled a screw threaded socket for the reception of a lampbase, a contact tongue carried by one of the prongs and projecting lit)2,707,733 Patented May 3, 1955 into the socket for engagement with theside of a lamp base, a contact member carried by the opposite unit andprojecting into the socket for engagement with the inner end of a lampbase, and a stem mounted in the assembled unit and slidable through oneside thereof and through one of the prongs for engaging the lastmentioned contact member and moving it into electrical communicationwith the adjacent prong.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan view of the assembled device showing a conventionalhood mounted thereon for partially shielding a lamp mounted in thesocket,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a view from the inner open end of one of the units,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the mating unit,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line6-6 of Fig. 2, I

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of Fig.6, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view similar to Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail a multiple outlet plug comprisesmating units designated generally 10 and 12 respectively each comprisinga body member having a front wall 14, a back wall 16, side walls 18 and20 and an end wall 22. Formed in each end wall 22 are spaced slots 24which extend ther'ethrough for the reception of the prongs of aconventional attachment plug. The back wall of each unit is formed witha slot 26, and joining the back wall adjacent its respective slot 26 andextending inwardly from the back wall into the hollow unit is a post orpedestal 28 which is provided with an internally screw threaded recess30, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The recess 30 opensthrough the end of the pedestal adjacent the open end of the unit aswill be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 6.

Carried by and projecting outwardly from the front wall 14 of each unitis a semi-cylindrical projection 32 having formed intermediate its endsan annular groove 34 for the reception of a split ring 36 of resilientmaterial which when embracing the units serves to hold them in assembledrelation as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3' inclusive. In thepreferred form of the invention, each semi-circular projection 32 isformed with a longitudinally extending semi-circular recess 38 carryinginwardly projecting spaced ribs 40 which when the parts are assembledform screw threads for engaging the base of a conventional electricallyilluminated lamp employed as a night light. It will thus be seen thatthe projections 32 when provided with the semi-circular recesses 38 andribs 40 provide a socket into which the base of the lamp may be screwedin a conventional manner.

Formed in the wall 18 of each unit is a semi-circular recess 42 whichwhen the parts are assembled forms a circular opening in the completedevice through which works the stem of the button which is employed inenergizing and ale-energizing an electrically illuminated lamp mountedin the socket. side walls 18 and 20 with the back wall 16 of each unitare lugs 44 and 46 and formed in the lug d6 of each unit is a recess 48which opens toward the open end of the unit for the reception of pegs 50carried by the lugs 44. It will thus be seen that the pegs 50 uponentering the sockets 48 will serve to guide the units and hold them inproper alignment during and after the assembly of the device.

Extending through the slot 26 of the unit 10 is a contact prong 52 andextending through the contact prong 52 and threadedly engaging thethreaded socket 30 of Formed at the junction of the' the unit is a screw54 which serves to hold the prong in proper position in the unit 10.Carried by the prong 52 and extending perpendicularly therefrom withinthe unit 10 is' an arm' 56. to which is riveted or otherwise secured acontact tongue 58' which extends perpendicularly; from the arm 56 andinto, the recess 38 therein. The, tongue is provided adjacent itsendremote from the arm 56: with. corrugations 6% which overlie the ribs40 within the recess 38 sothat when a lamp base is screwed into thesocket'formed by the assembled device the tongue will engage the side ofthe lamp base for conducting electrical energy to the lamp. Springcontact fingers are carried-by the arm 56-and project therefrominsubstantially; perpendicular relation to the prong S2 with one of thefingers lying adjacent a slot 24 in the unit 10 while the oppositefinger 62. projects into the mating unit 17. and-terminates adjacent theslot 24% therein which when the parts are assembled aligns with the slot24 adjacent which-the finger 62 terminates.

Extending through the slot 26 of the unit 12 is a contact prong 64 whichis held in place in the unit 12 by a suitable screw which enters thesocket 30 in the post 23 of the unit 12 and carried by the prong 64 andextending perpendicularly thereto is an arm 66 having an opening 68extending therethrough for the reception of a tubular rivet 70-by meansof which spring fingers '72 are secured to the prong 64. Like the springfingers 62, the fingers 72 extend perpendicular to the prong 64 and oneof the fingers terminates adjacent the slot 24 in its respective unit-12while the other finger terminates adjacent the slot 24 in the unit 10when the parts are assembled.

Carried by and extending perpendicularly from the springv fingers 72adjacent their connection to the arm 66 is a contact arm 74 andextending into the recess 38 in the:cylindrical extension or collar 32of the unit 12 is a contact member 76-which is adapted to engage thebaseof a lamp engaging the contact tongue 58. This contact member 76extends into the interior of the assembled unitsas-illustrated in Fig. 8and is provided with a resilient contact finger 78 which is adapted tobe moved into engagement with the contact 74 in order to complete thesupply ofelectrical energy to a lamp engaging the contact 76. Mountedfor sliding movement in the recesses 420E the mating units 10 and 12 andthrough the opening in the tubular rivet 70 is a stem 80 carryingadjacent its outer end a head 82, and intermediate its ends an outwardlyextending annular collar 84 which when the stem is moved outwardlyengages the resilient finger 73 and advances it into contact with thecontact member 74, it being understood that the finger 78' movesoutwardly through'its inherent resiliency and away from the contact 74-when the collar 84 is moved into the position illustrated in Figs. 7 and8.

In use with the prongs 52 and 64 and their attendant Contact membersassembled in their respective units it! and 12, it will beevident thatthe units may be readily assembled by introducing the pegs 5t) into.their respective sockets 48 and simply pushing the parts together untilthe: adjacent open ends of the units are in abutting relation asillustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. With the parts thus assembled, thesplit ring 36 is placed in encircling relation:with the semi-cylindricalmembers 32 and this together with thepegs 50 will serve to keep theparts in proper relation. Upon the threading of a lamp base into therecesses 38, it .will be evident that the tongue 58 will threadedlyengage the side of the lamp base while the contact member 76 will engagethe bottom of the lamp base so that when the prongs 52 and 64 are thrustinto a conventional convenience outlet and the stem 80 of the button82is moved outwardly, a flow of electrical energy will be establishedthrough the lamp. At the same time upon introducing the prongs of aconventional attachment plug through the slots 24, they will be movedinto engagement. with the contact fingers 62 and 72 so that a flow.,ofelectrical energy may thus be established through an attachment.

Obviously, it-sodesired a hood 86may' be rcmovably mounted on thecylindrical projections 32 and to this end the projections are providedadjacent their junctions with the front walls 14 with grooves 88 for thereception of the conventional inwardly extending rib 90 carried by thehood 86.

Owing to the structure of the units, it is evident that the parts may beassembled without employing the conventional bolts or rivets usuallyemployed to hold the non-conducting elements of an outlet plug inassembled relation as the entire device is held in assembled relationsimply by encircling the semi-circular projections 32 with the splitring 36. Separation of the parts when in service is further resisted bythe fact that the prongs 52 and 64 entering a conventional convenienceoutlet will serve to aid the split ring in maintaining the parts inassembled position. It will therefore be evident that much of the laborinvolved in assembling devices of this character may be eliminated andthe assembly of such devices may be readily accomplished.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multiple outlet plug of the type having spaced contact prongsfor entrance into a conventional electrical convenience outlet, a bodycomprising matingbody members each body member comprising a hollow unitof substantially rectangular cross section having spaced parallel frontand back walls, and end wall closing one end of each unit, each end wallhaving spaced prong receiving slots extending therethrough, the oppositeend of each unit being wholly open and lying perpendicular to the frontand back walls, a substantially semi-circular collar member carried bythe front wall of each unit and projecting outwardly therefrom adjacentthe open end thereof, spaced ribs carried by each collar member andprojecting inwardly therefrom and forming when the body members areassembled in mating relation screw threads for engaging a lamp base, acontact prong carried by each body member and projecting outwardly fromthe rear wall thereof, a resilient contact tongue carried by the prongof one of the body members and projecting into the interior of thecollar member thereof for engaging the side of the base of a lampthreaded into the mating collar members, a resilient contact membercarried by the prong of the mating body member and projecting into thecollar member thereof for engaging the bottom of the base of a lampthreaded into the mating collar members, reciprocable means carried bythe mating body members and extending through the body between the endsthereof engageable with the resilient contact member and to move saidcontact member into electrical contact with one of the prongs carried byone of the body members, and yielding contact arms carried by the prongsand extending transversely thereof within the body members and into thepath of movement of the contact prongs of an attachment plug enteredinto the prong receiving slots of a body member.

2. A multiple outlet plug of the type having spaced prongs for entranceto a conventional convenience outlet comprising a pair of split matingbody members, each consisting of a hollow unit having spaced parallelfront and rear walls and a pair of connecting angularly disposed sidewalls the rear wall having a pair of spaced parallel prong receivingslots therein, contact prongs disposed within said slots, said bodymembers having a transverse chamber therein intersecting said slots atright angles, each front wall having a pair of semicircular collarmembers which are interiorly ribbed and shaped to provide a threadedsocket for receiving a lamp when the mating body members are assembled,

' asplit ringsurrounding said collar members and holding the same inplace, each of said prongs having curved resilient extensions lyingwithin said chamber and providing a pair of electrical contacts for alamp within said socket, said pair of side Walls each having a pair ofprong receiving slots therein which lead into said chamber, theextensions on said prongs extending into such last mentioned slot andproviding electrical contacts for the prongs of an attachment plugentered therein, a switch slidably mounted in said mating body membersadjacent the meeting edges thereof and operable to engage saidextensions and actuate the same to open and close the circuit to a lampsecured in said lamp socket and a plurality of pegs disposed in recessesin said body members and cooperating with said split ring to secure saidmating body members against relative displacement.

3. In a multiple outlet plug of the type having spaced contact prongsfor entrance into a conventional electric convenience type outlet, abody comprising mating body members each comprising a hollow unit ofsubstantially rectangular cross section having spaced parallel front andback walls, an end wall closing one end of each unit, each end wallhaving spaced prong receiving slots extending therethrough, the oppositeend of each unit being wholly open and lying perpendicular to the frontand back Walls, a substantially semi-circular collar member carried bythe front Wall of each unit and projecting outwardly therefrom adjacentthe open end thereof, spaced ribs carried by each collar member andprojecting inwardly therefrom and forming when the body members areassembled in mating relation, screw threads for engaging a lamp base, acontact prong car-- ried by each body member and projecting outwardlyfrom the rear Wall thereof, a resilient contact tongue carried by theprong of one of the body members and projecting into the interior of thecollar member thereof for engaging the side of the base of a lampthreaded into the mating collar members, a contact carried by the prongof the mating body member and a resilient contact member supported bysaid mating body member projecting into the collar member thereof forengaging the bottom of the base of a lamp threaded into the matingcollar members, a stem mounted in the mating body members to slideperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the plug and through one ofthe prongs and an out standing annular shoulder carried by the stern formovement therewith into and out of engagement with the resilient contactmember to move said resilient contact member into and out of engagementwith said prong opposite the contact tongue carrying prong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS543,016 Heath July 23, 1895 1,832,044 Muldoon Nov. 17, 1931 2,050,438Ludwig Aug. 11, 1936 2,075,364 Smith Mar. 30, 1937 2,114,826 Zelov Apr.19, 1938 2,245,068 Chirelstein June 10, 1941 2,446,709 Ludwig Aug. 10,1948 2,595,799 Ludwig May 6, 1952

